The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says on Monday, March 11 ,2024, that 10 of the 18 Filipino crew members of the seized MV St. Nikolas have arrived in the Philippines. The Marshall Islands-flagged MV St. Nikolas was the oil tanker seized by Iran鈥檚 navy in the Gulf of Oman on January 11. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Ten of the 18 Filipino crew members of MV St. Nikolas have arrived in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The Marshall Islands-flagged MV St. Nikolas was the oil tanker seized by Iran鈥檚 navy in the Gulf of Oman on January 11.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega also said Monday that two more Filipino seafarers from the ship are set to return to the Philippines this week.
鈥淥f the 18 Filipino seafarers, one returned last February and nine arrived yesterday (Sunday, March 10) with an additional two arriving Wednesday. So that is 12. The remaining six will eventually be repatriated too,鈥� de Vega said in a text message to 蜜桃工作室.
鈥淭he key is that the manning agency is replacing them with foreign crewmen as per our strong request,鈥� he added.
The Department of Migrant Workers earlier disclosed that all Filipino crew members aboard MV St. Nikolas are in 鈥済ood condition鈥� under the custody of the Iranian government.
The IRNA news agency said the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized 鈥渁n American oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in accordance with a court order.鈥�
The seizure of MV St. Nikolas was in retaliation for 鈥渧iolation committed by the Suez Rajan ship鈥� and the theft of Iranian oil by the United States,鈥� it added,
The United States, in return, condemned what it called an 鈥渦nlawful seizure鈥� and demanded Iran 鈥渋mmediately release the ship and its crew.鈥�
In January, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo appealed to Iran鈥檚 First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to allow the safe release of the Filipino sailors aboard the seized oil tanker.